Biomedical engineers have invented a new device that more quickly and accurately 'listens in' on the chemical messages that tell our cells how to multiply. The tool improves our understanding of how cancerous growth begins, and could identify new targets for cancer medications.

Scientists have reported the first observation of spin precession of spin currents flowing in a silicon nanowire transport channel, and determined spin lifetimes and corresponding spin diffusion lengths in these nanoscale spintronic devices.

A recent estimate suggested there are more than 600 different types of graphene, commercial organisations looking to work with the material can struggle to know where to start. To address this problem, The University of Manchester and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have joined forces by holding the Graphene UK Standardisation Workshop at the National Graphene Institute (NGI).

Researchers have developed a simple 'recipe' for combining multiple materials with single functions into a single material with multiple functions: movement, recall of movement and sensing - similar to muscles in animals. The materials could be used to make robotics far more efficient by replacing bulky devices with a single, smarter, life-like material.

Scientists have managed to build a fully functional neuron by using organic bioelectronics. This artificial neuron contain no 'living' parts, but is capable of mimicking the function of a human nerve cell and communicate in the same way as our own neurons do.